Jay Walder nominated to head New York MTA

New York Gov. David Paterson Tuesday nominated Jay Walder to head the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Walder must be confirmed by the state Senate, which is expected to meet Wednesday on the matter.

Walder, 48, previously served with MTA as its chief financial officer from 1983 to 1995. He also served as managing director for finance and planning at Transport for London from 2000 to 2006. He then became a partner in McKinsey & Co., a consulting firm.

If confirmed, Walder will serve as both chairman and chief executive officer. Walder would succeed Lee Sander as MTA’s CEO; Sander was forced to resign last May. Helena Williams, president of MTA Long Island Rail Road, has been acting CEO in the interim.

Walder’s nomination has been greeted warmly by regional transit advocacy groups, including the Straphangers Campaign and the Tri-State Transportation Campaign.